PyInstaller UAC not working in onefile mode

Question

Hello everybody.

I have a small python project and want to make it to single executable file. I am using...

Windows 7
Python 3.4
PyInstaller 3.2.1

My PyInstaller command is,

PyInstaller -y -w -F -n output_file_name --uac-admin --clean source_file.py

this command works properly. But single output file does not ask for admin rights when executed. And there's no shield mark on executable file icon.

When remove the -F option (equivalent to --onefile), output executable file has shield mark on its icon and ask me admin rights. But this is not what I want. I want a single executable file.

I found a manifest file (output_file_name.exe.manifest) in dist\output_file_name folder. So I did...

PyInstaller -y -w -F -n output_file_name --manifest output_file_name.exe.manifest --uac-admin --clean source_file.py

But this command doesn't work. Its single executable file still does not ask for admin rights.

I have removed PyInstaller and installed recent development version.

pip install git+https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller.git@develop

But the result is same. Its output doesn't have a shield mark on icon and does not ask admin rights.

Do you have any idea?

Please help me!

passion053 · Answer 1 · 2017-03-29T02:58:53.113

3

I found what's wrong!

The key point is...

Install PyInstaller 3.0
Manifest file must be located in dist folder where single excutable file located
The name of manifest file must be same as output file.
If manifest file is located in dist folder, no need to specify --manifest option. --uac-admin is enough.
You can find manifest file at build folder.

Thank you.

edited Mar 29 '17 at 02:58

answered Mar 29 '17 at 02:03

passion053

367
4
18

1

Same here: `--manifest` does not work, but when you omit that and put the manifest file in the same folder as the executable, admin permissions are requested. – j08lue Feb 13 '18 at 07:16
Btw this was in both pyinstaller and 3.2.1 and 3.3.1. – j08lue Feb 13 '18 at 08:42
ensure you use the `--uac-admin` flag on the console, else the manifest file will not work as expected. – Samuel Kazeem Feb 28 '19 at 16:07
Thank you! It saves my day. What a silly bug it is. – Zhang Buzz Dec 07 '19 at 02:05

rhoitjadhav · Answer 2 · 2020-03-06T08:50:31.823

0

Adding up passion053's answer, in my case I used -F instead of --onefile and it works fine for me but yeah you need to add manifest file in the same directory as your single executable.

Note: I used pyinstaller version 3.5. and it works fine for my

Happy Coding!

edited Mar 06 '20 at 08:50

answered Oct 31 '19 at 13:21

rhoitjadhav

691
7
16

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 22 '20 at 09:15

0

Adding -r prog.exe.manifest,1 to pyinstaller command line worked for me, after that no need for putting manifest file near exe, pure single exe file.

answered Mar 22 '20 at 09:15

Arty

14,883
6
36
69

The Amateur Coder · Answer 4 · 2023-04-18T19:41:43.290

If you want more direct control over when the program asks for admin privileges, or if you don't want to rely on PyInstaller, you can use the PyUAC module (for Windows). Install it using:

pip install pyuac
pip install pypiwin32

Direct usage of the package is:

import pyuac

def main():
    print("Do stuff here that requires being run as an admin.")
    # The window will disappear as soon as the program exits!
    input("Press enter to close the window. >")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    if not pyuac.isUserAdmin():
        print("Re-launching as admin!")
        pyuac.runAsAdmin()
    else:        
        main()  # Already an admin here.

Or, if you wish to use the decorator:

from pyuac import main_requires_admin

@main_requires_admin
def main():
    print("Do stuff here that requires being run as an admin.")
    # The window will disappear as soon as the program exits!
    input("Press enter to close the window. >")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

You can then use your PyInstaller command without the UAC option.

(from this answer)

PyInstaller UAC not working in onefile mode

4 Answers4